The shocking death of promising Bengal opener Ankit Keshri has once again put on-field player safety under sharp focus.
“Cricket is a non-contact sport but there are times when these collisions occur on the ground. Some of them can be serious in nature. What happened to Keshri is sad,” leg-spin legend Anil Kumble told The Hindu .
Former India off-spinner M. Venkataramana recalled a life-threatening incident involving him during a TNCA first division match in Chennai, 1994. “I went for a catch at long-off, the force of the ball pushed me back, and my head hit the ground.
“I was unconscious for 15 minutes and was kept under observation for three days at a local hospital.
“I was then on medication for a few months. Thankfully, I survived,” he said. Venkataramana is now a successful BCCI coach.
Indeed, there is always an element of risk while playing the game, even when a cricketer is not facing a fast bowler. Former India fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan shed more light on the subject.
“Collisions can be dangerous. A cricketer could fall on his back and snap his neck, or his spinal cord could be damaged. These are alarming conditions.”
Ramji added, “When running between the wickets, a batsman’s bat handle could find the other batsman’s throat, something which could potentially choke him.”
He said, “The initial diagnosis is very important. I am of the opinion that all these games, whether at a higher level or a lower stage, should have an ambulance and emergency medical staff ready at the ground.
“And there should be no confusion as to which medical centre an injured player should be taken to.
“A lot of planning is required to prevent these medical conditions from turning fatal.”
Ramji was witness to Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan smashing into each other at fine-leg during the 2012 edition of the CB triangular ODI series down under. “Fortunately, both were not injured,” he said.
When two players go for a catch, it is imperative that the better positioned cricketer shouts “It’s mine,” or words conveying similar meaning to the other.
“Sometimes all the noise at a packed arena can drown the words.
Former South Zone all-rounder D. Vasu said, “Mid-pitch collisions between batsmen take place because one or both of them are watching the ball instead of looking straight.
“This is why you see batsmen crash into each other or the bowler. Potentially, these incidents can turn pretty serious. You need to send your message to your partner early.”
Vasu remembers Keshri well. “He was here in Chennai in 2013, in BCCI’s Specialist Academy camp.
“I was one of the coaches and there seemed a lot of ability in the boy as a top-order batsman. It’s a big loss for Bengal and Indian cricket.”
It was an on-field collision that left the fearsome Aussie Jeff Thomson a lesser bowler. Thomson and Alan Turner crashed into each other while pursuing a catch in the Test against Pakistan at Adelaide in 1976.
Subsequently, Thomson underwent surgery for a dislocated right collar bone and was never quite consistently quick again.
